Registration for the AVDA Awards 2026 is now officially closed. We thank all participants for their submissions and look forward to celebrating excellence in Masonic literature.
The distinguished award ceremony will be held on 25 November 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the Grand Committee Hall of the Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland, Edinburgh.
The Arcana Veritas Distinction Awards (AVDA) were formally announced at the Annual Communication and Installation of Grand Lodge Office-Bearers of the Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland, held in Edinburgh on 30 November 2023.
Established to commemorate and celebrate outstanding contributions to Masonic literature, the Arcana Veritas Distinction Award is dedicated to writers and authors whose work demonstrates both scholarly rigour and interpretive insight across the breadth of Masonic study. Submissions may address, among other themes, the history of the Craft, symbolism, degrees, ritual practice, jurisprudence, comparative traditions, or other subjects grounded in Masonic teachings and experience.
AVDA are set to recognise writing that strengthens understanding within the fraternity and supports the continued development of Masonic knowledge. Works will be considered on the quality of research, clarity of argument, fidelity to sources, and the extent to which they advance thoughtful discourse in a manner consistent with Masonic principles.
The Awards welcome contributions from diverse perspectives, encouraging authors to illuminate different dimensions of Masonic philosophy and practice with precision, originality, and intellectual integrity.
We invite Masonic writers and authors to submit eligible works for consideration in accordance with the published guidelines and submission windows.
Winners 2025
Discover the Winners and fimalists
The prestigious award ceremony took place on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at the Grand Committee Hall of the Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland in Edinburgh.
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Winners 2024
Discover the Winners and Finalists
The prestigious award ceremony took place on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at the Grand Committee Hall of the Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland in Edinburgh.
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Each year, AVDA will be presenting distinction awards for the finest
Masonic books and papers published in English.
Submission Guidelines
For 2026 submission has been closed.
The Valuation Methodology
All submitted materials and papers will undergo a preliminary examination by members of the valuation committee to check for submission errors or omissions.
The valuation committee, comprising three distinguished brethren, will, after successfully reviewing each submitted material, forward it to a judging authority panel to be evaluated and noted.
The methodology used by the judges will be objective and rigorous. Each submission will be evaluated based on the criteria established by the awarding organization or committee:
Quality of writing, depth of research, originality of ideas, relevance to the Masonic community, and contribution to the understanding of Freemasonry and its principles.
The judges will be asked to provide detailed feedback on each submission, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses and making recommendations for improvement. The judges may also consider the broader context of the work, such as its potential impact on the Masonic community and the wider public.